Daimler Buses wins 19 e-buses in Osnabrück (Germany), where e-bus share will reach 94%

SWO Mobil in Osnabrück has ordered 19 Mercedes-Benz eCitaro buses, following Europe-wide tender. They are set to be delivered from 2025.

The total capacity of the five 98.3 kWh battery packs installed on each of the buses amounts to 491.5 kWh and “enables them to cover an operating range of around 270 kilometres, which is more than sufficient for a regular-service route”, Daimler Buses states. The batteries are charged via depot charging at the depot of Stadtwerke Osnabrück.

In the city several VDL e-buses are currently in operation, covering 5 lines. At the end of March 2019, the MetroBus line M1 was converted to pure electric operation; this was followed by the MetroBus axes M2, M3, M5. M4 MetroBus line went electric, although not completely, in late 2021 (one year ago it was three e-lines). 

Mercedes eCitaro for Osnabrück

The two-axle eCitaro solo buses now ordered by SWO Mobil are 12 metres long and have three entrance doors. Each of the 19 buses, which are painted in the red and white colours of SWO Mobil, has a maximum transport capacity of 69 passengers: up to 30 seats and 39 standing places. A manually operated folding ramp at the rear entrance door facilitates the use of the buses for passengers with reduced mobility.

The passenger compartment is equipped with numerous USB double charging sockets allowing for mobile devices to be charged. An environmentally friendly CO2 air-conditioning system, which is operated with the R744 refrigerant, operates in combination with a CO2 heat pump.

The headlamps for low-beam driving light, high beam, cornering lights, daytime running lights and contour lights, as well as the perimeter lighting in the entrance, are designed using LED technology. A roll/pitch control system (WNR) is also installed in the vehicles.

GSR 2 active safety technologies

Like all buses and coaches from Daimler Buses in Europe, the 19 new eCitaro solo buses in Osnabrück will also fulfil the requirements of the General Safety Regulation (GSR) that will apply throughout Europe as from July 2024. They are provided with a large number of powerful assistance systems such as Sideguard Assist 2 and the completely new Frontguard Assist, which together form a complete warning system that warns of obstacles and people at the sides and in front of the bus.

Other features include the Attention Assist (AtAs) system, the TPM (Tyre Pressure Monitoring) system and the electrohydraulic intelligent eco steering system. The buses are also equipped with the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) and Traffic Sign Assist, which warns the driver if the maximum permissible speed is being exceeded.

“We are delighted that the eCitaro electric bus partnership with SWO Mobil has now started. This order is another important step for us in the expansion of electrified mobility in local public transport in German and international cities,” says Rüdiger Kappel, Head of Sales Public Transport Germany at Daimler Buses.

“In Daimler Buses, we have found a highly competent partner. With the new buses, we are increasing the proportion of electric buses in our fleet to 81 out of a total of 86 vehicles. This gives us an electric bus share of 94 per cent,” emphasises André Kränzke, Managing Director of SWO Mobil.